The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-02
SOCIAL LIFE OF A CAPTAIN.
Some Points About Those Who Com
mand Great Steamships.

Some Points About Those Who Com
mand Great Steamships.
NEW YORK, April 30.-The captain of
fiTst-class ocean steamer is always a social
success when he is import, if he desires to be.
OF course, many do not care for other dis
tinction than comes from being leader of the
little social world within their ships The
captains OF the Cunarders are nearly all
fond Of society. Perhaps the most pro-
nounced success is the captain of the
Aurania His handsome face and charming
manners have won him the rather unjust
title Of the Duke Of the Ocean, The sal
AIRY Of Cunard captain is about 50, 500.
and he can make $500 to 81 900 year extra
by renting his cabin, which is the finest and
handsomest on the vessel There are other
privileges. The day before sailing the cap
his friends, and it is always a
good one In this way he makes returns
for the social favors he receives. / hap
pened TO meet the captain of the Aurania
shortly after his arrival here the other day,
and he found awaiting him about 100 letters
from leading people in New York and vi
cinity inviting him TO dinner parties, thea
tire parties and so on IL was impossible of
course, 20 accept them all, and where he
could not accept he was sure TO offend, so
that 1t requires great deal of tact In
fact, to be a popular commander of YES
sci, he tells me that it Is necessary TO be
trained i'll diplomacy. Very often there
viii be a dozen ladies on board his vessel.
and he dare not show one more attention
than the other, and even with the
exercise OF the greatest tact the cap
tain often makes matters very unpleasant
for himself. IL is necessary 10 systematize
matters. 1t is the ambition Of the majority
Of the Passengers TO sit on the right hand Of
the captain at the dinner table. and of
course it Is for him to say who the person
shall be. To avoid trouble, should any lady
or gentleman have a title from the English
government he will select the one holding
the highest rank; or upon occasion the cour-
teSy viii be extended TO some distinguished
American. In the absence of distinguished
persons he selects the one who has been
across the ocean the greatest number of
times. One OF these captains was tell
ing me about trip that Christine
Nilsson made with him. She was
the most distinguished lady aboard, and
lie was possibly more consideraCe with her
than with any of the Others. A number of
lady passengers were highly indignant at
this and referred 10 Miss Nilsson IN very
unkind way. One lady, whose husband
made his start a. saloon keeper. spoke of
her az "a common singer and claimed the
social honors for herself But, by a little
incident, they all were made 70 acknowledge
that Miss Nilsson was entitled 20 superior
attention. One night there was terrible
gale and all the tintid passengers thought
the good Old ship would certainly 20 down.
The captain, who during fair weather had
spent large part OF his time in social
way, now took his place on the bridge The
waves swept over the vessel and nobody
hut the officers Of the ship were allowed ON
deck. 1T was necessary for tho CAPTAIN to